Whether the "Stone Bridge", the St. Peters Cathedral, the princely castle Thurn and Taxis or the Porta Praetoria - the Old Town of Regensburg is more fully of historical treasures, waiting to be discovered from you. Our Regensburg Tourists Guide is not only a compact overview, but also a detailed description of the single places of interest mediates for you.

Since the year 1812, the former imperial abbey and Benedictine monastery of St. Emmeram has been owned by the princely House of Thurn and Taxis. The princely family moved to Regensburg in 1748 to represent the emperor at the Imperial Diet. After the dissolution of the Holy Roman Empire, Prince Karl Alexander received the monastery buildings as part of the compensation for ceding postal rights in Bavaria to the state. Over the course of the 19th century, the complex, comprising several hundred rooms, was expanded into a princely residence, which today ranks among t... (Foto: Clemens Mayer)

Johannes Kepler is renowned for his established laws in physics and planetary movement theories. Born on Dec 26th 1571, he lived in two diff erent houses in Regensburg. He then died in the Keplerhaus in 1630. He did however travel quite often as he taught in Linz and had to support his mother who was accused of witchcraft in Leonberg and Güglingen. Additionally, he would often spend time in Ulm, where he printed the Rudolphinischen Tafeln (his largest and most important thesis). Kepler traveled to many cities with the title as ‘the emperor’s mathematician’,... (Foto: Stadt Regensburg, Peter Ferstl)

It looks like a tower from another age. After more than 10 years of planning and construction, the Kuchlbauer tower in the grounds of the Kuchlbauer Brewery in Abensberg was completed at the end of 2009. The landmark represents one of the last architectural projects by the world-famous artist Friedensreich Hundertwasser, and it brings together the two worlds of beer and wine. The tower pays homage to Bavaria‘s beers and its breweries. The Brauerei zum Kuchlbauer is located where the beer originated and has one of the world‘s oldest brewing rights. With Leonhar... (Foto: Brauerei zum Kuchlbauer GmbH & Co KG, Abendsberg)

Irish Benedictine monks (Scotti in common parlance referred to Gaels of Ireland and Scotland) founded the St. Jacob abbey in around 1090. Construction of the abbey and portal were fi nished in 1200. It is considered one of the most meaningful works of occidental art. Prevailing opinion believes that all of the fi gures portrayed were once painted or some even gold or silver-plated with the holes being once fi lled with gems. The exact interpretation or meaning of the portal is still in debate. One widely accepted theory by Franz Dietheuer, states: the molding abov... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

Irish Benedictine monks (Scotti in common parlance referred to Gaels of Ireland and Scotland) founded the St. Jacob abbey in around 1090. Construction of the abbey and portal were fi nished in 1200. It is considered one of the most meaningful works of occidental art. Prevailing opinion believes that all of the fi gures portrayed were once painted or some even gold or silver-plated with the holes being once fi lled with gems. The exact interpretation or meaning of the portal is still in debate. One widely accepted theory by Franz Dietheuer, states: the molding abov... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

The "Stone Bridge" was constructed from 1135 to 1146 in romanesque style. The bridge was originally built with 16 supporting arches giving it a total length of 330 meters. The 16th arch is now no longer visible as it was eliminated with the building of the ‘Salzstadel‘ on the city-side of the bridge. The arches have a width ranging from 10 to 17 meters and are equipped with steel icebreakers on the up river points of the pillars. Originally reinforced with stone in the river bed, the pillars are now supported by cement to create the legendary ‘regensburg dan... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

The salt streets are the oldest trading routes in Europe, twisting from Italy up over the Alps to the east, west, and north. Salt was often so cherished, that many soldiers had their wages paid out in salt portions rather than cash. During the 13th century, salt came to Regensburg via Passau, originating from the salt mines of Reichenhall. From Regensburg, the salt would continue on up river to key transfer stations where it would be further distributed. The buying and selling of the ‘white gold’ was run by the salt lords and was only taken over by the state i... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

The Walhalla stands majestically above Donaustauf, just over six miles east of Regensburg â€" a vast temple of marble. It rears up out of the dark greenery around and can be seen on the horizon from far away with its huge entrance. Initiated by the Bavarian King Ludwig I, a significant, neoclassical edifice in the Doric style was created by the architect Leo von Klenze. It is not only the exterior that presents a tremendous picture but the interior as well, the „Cella“: an impressive pantheon. This was opened on October 18, 1842, after 12 years of construction... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

In Kelheim, the eye is drawn by the Befreiungshalle („Hall of Liberation“). Like the Walhalla in Donaustauf, the Befreiungshalle on Michelsberg was commissioned by King Ludwig I. Friedrich von Gärtner began constructing the hall in 1842. After his death, it was completed by the architect Leo von Klenze in 1863. It was intended as a memorial to the wars of liberation against Napoleon from 1813 to 1815. The building consists of three levels and is made of lime stone. There are 18 statues enthroned all around the outer facade which stand for the battles of the G... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

The ‘Goliath House’ (Goliathhaus), built in 1260, is considered one of the most well-known landmarks of Regensburg with its painting of David and Goliath done in 1573. Along with the Haus Heuport, this is the largest ‘city castle’ with in the inner city and is located on the southern base of the old roman fort. The name is likely not derived from the biblical epic, but rather from the name ‘Goliards’. Theology students were called Goliards as their guardian angel was called Golias. It is believed that the present Goliath house was built on the location... (Foto: Stadt Regensburg, Peter Ferstl)

Regensburg city hall was built over multiple centuries. The tower which was built in 1260 is especially noteworthy. This 55 meter high tower is a fi xture to the postcard silhouette of Regensburg. More well-renowned is the Reichssaal (parliament hall). Not only important as a work of art, the Reichsaal was also the location of the fi rst German Parliament. As it was not a democratically elected parliament, the emperor was required to meet with a collection of representatives in order to make legal, administrative, and military decisions. The location of the Reichs... (Foto: Stadt Regensburg, Peter Ferstl)

The fi rst church stood on the grounds of the present St. Peters Cathedral, in as early as 700 AD. After a fi re burned down the fi rst cathedral, construction began in 1273 to begin the fi rst stages of the structure we now see today. The new cathedral however, was fi rst fi nished 600 years later in 1870/72 to its present form. The famous 105 meter tall spires were only fi nished in the last 10 years of the construction. Inside the cathedral you can see the famous four part „Annunciation Group“ with the „Erminold Maria“. It refers back to the alleged Erm... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

Castra Regina was established under the Emperor Marc Aurel in 179 AD, as a military camp for 6000 men with its strategic location being the northernmost point on the Danube. This fort was approximately 450 x 550 meters large with a mote surrounding it 6 meters wide and 3 meters deep. The fort’s wall was 1.8 meters thick and 9 meters high, with 30 towers and 4 entrance gates. Today, portions of the wall can still be seen at a few points including porta praetoria, the parking garage on Dachauplatz, Am Königshof, and Ernst-Reuter- Platz. The north gate of the fort... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

The Church of the Holy Trinity, located on the Gesandtenstrasse, was built in the midst of the Thirty Years War. This was one of the fi rst evangelical church es in Bavaria. Construction began on July 4th 1627, and was completed only 4 years later on December 5th, 1631. The original benches are still used today, dating back to 1630-31. The intricate wood carvings on the back of the choir chairs are a highlight especially worth seeing. The poor box, which dates back to 1632, originally stood in the middle isle but is now located in a showcase near the pulpit rise. ... (Foto: filterVERLAG)

The founder of the Illuminati, Adam Weishaupt, lived in the Engelburggasse from 1785 to 1787 in Regensburg. This is suggested from an 18th century engraving, where the house with the number 8 is visible in the background. On May 1st 1776, the order of the ‘Federation of the Perfektibilists‘ was founded by Weishaupt in Ingolstadt. This order would later be renamed the ‘Order of the Illuminati’ (Latin illuminati = the enlightening). Despite what many fi lms and books claim, the goal of the order had nothing to do with sinister and evil powers. In contrary, a... (Foto: filterVERLAG)